U.S. patent application number 10/153859 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-12 for system and method for electronic presentations.
Invention is credited to Ackerman, Stuart M., Adams, William H., Brown, Christopher Robert, Laine, Leslie E., Moriarty, John Michael, Smith, Sean Dare.
Application Number | 20020186236 10/153859 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23128010 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020186236 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown, Christopher Robert ;
et al. |
December 12, 2002 |
System and method for electronic presentations
Abstract
An electronic presentation system and method provides multiple
display screens for presentation materials as well as permits
dynamic annotations to presentation materials that do not
permanently alter the presentation materials. The presentation
materials can easily be directed to any one of the display screens
and any annotations can be saved for future use or simply
deleted.
Inventors: |
Brown, Christopher Robert;
(Sheffield, GB) ; Moriarty, John Michael; (Vienna,
VA) ; Smith, Sean Dare; (Alresford, GB) ;
Ackerman, Stuart M.; (Los Angeles, CA) ; Laine,
Leslie E.; (Redondo Beach, CA) ; Adams, William
H.; (Gardiner, MT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY
600 13TH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005-3096
US
|
Family ID: |
23128010 |
Appl. No.: |
10/153859 |
Filed: |
May 24, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60293179 |
May 25, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/730 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/14 20130101; G09B
5/08 20130101; G06F 3/1423 20130101; G09G 2340/125 20130101; G09B
5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/730 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A system providing electronic presentations comprising: a
plurality of presentation slides stored in a first memory
accessible by a programmable computer; a first display screen
coupled with the programmable computer and having a first video
input signal; a second display screen coupled with the programmable
computer and having a second video input signal; a third display
screen coupled with the programmable computer and having a third
video input signal; a presentation control application stored in a
second memory accessible by the programmable computer; and the
programmable computer being configured to execute the presentation
control application to provide an interface, displayed on the third
display screen, by which each of the plurality of slides is
dispatched for display to either one of the first or second display
screens.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of slides
are arranged in a presentation file.
3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising: a plurality
of presentation files stored in the first memory; and wherein the
presentation control application is further configured to: display
a list of the plurality of presentation files via the interface,
and select one presentation file based on input received via the
interface.
4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the presentation
control interface is configured to present a list of presentation
slides within the one presentation file via the interface and
select a slide to dispatch based on input received via the
interface.
5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a video
switch having a plurality of inputs coupled with said programmable
computer and a plurality of outputs coupled with said first and
second display screens, said video switch configurable to
selectably couple any of its inputs to any of its outputs.
6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising: a
demonstration computer providing demonstration video output coupled
with a particular one input of the video switch wherein the
presentation control application is configured to direct the
demonstration video output to either of the first or second display
screens.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the programmable
computer comprises a first, second and third video output
corresponding to the first second and third display screens,
respectively.
8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the presentation
control application controls the dispatch of each slide to either
the first or second display screen by directing the slide to the
first or second video output, respectively.
9. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a preference
data associated with the presentation file, said preference data
stored in the first memory and including one or more entries, each
entry associated with a slide of the presentation file; and wherein
said presentation control application is configured to
automatically dispatch a particular slide to either the first or
second display screen based on an entry in the preference data
corresponding to that particular slide.
10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the preference data
comprises a preference file separate from the presentation
file.
11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the preference data is
included in the presentation file.
12. The system according to claim 9, wherein after dispatching the
particular slide, the presentation control application retrieves a
next slide in the presentation file.
13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the interface includes
a preview window for displaying a next slide for dispatch, wherein
the presentation control application is configured to retrieve the
next slide for display via the preview window when a previous slide
is dispatched to either the first or second display screen.
14. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the first display
screen comprises a first touch-screen device and a first projector;
and the second display screen comprises a second touch-screen
device and a second projector.
15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the third display
screen is a touch-screen device.
16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising: a
respective slide annotation application associated with each of the
first, second and third display screens, said slide annotation
applications executing on the programmable computer an interfacing
with the presentation control application.
17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the first, second and
third display screens are configured to respectively provide
tactile feedback information to the associated slide annotation
applications and wherein the presentation control application is
configured to modify one or more of the first second or third video
input signals based on the respective tactile feedback
information.
18. The system according to claim 17, wherein each slide annotation
application is configured to store in the first memory a respective
annotation history file based on the respective tactile feedback
information.
19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the presentation
control application is configured to retrieve any annotation
history file associated with a particular slide dispatched for
display and display of that particular slide on any of the first
second or third display screens is modified according to the
annotation history file without depending on which slide annotation
application stored the annotation history file.
20. The system according to claim 3, further comprising: a list of
extrinsic slides not included within the presentation file; and
wherein the presentation control application is further configured
to: display a list of the extrinsic slides via the interface, and
select one extrinsic slide, for display on either the first or
second display screens, based on input received via the
interface.
21. The system according to claim 9, wherein: one or more of the
entries in the preference data include a memory jogger text; and
wherein said presentation control application is configured to
automatically display the memory jogger text within the interface
when the particular slide is displayed on the third display
screen.
22. A method for providing an electronic presentation of a
plurality of slides using multiple display screens, comprising the
steps of: providing a presentation control interface on a center
display screen; displaying a slide, from among the plurality of
slides, in a preview window within the presentation control
interface; receiving input via the presentation control interface
indicating whether to direct the slide to a right display screen or
a left display screen; dispatching the slide for display on the
indicated display screen; and retrieving a next slide for display
in the preview window.
23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the steps
of: retrieving a first list of presentation files, each said
presentation file comprising a respective plurality of slides;
displaying on the center screen the first list via the presentation
control interface; and selecting one of the presentation files, for
the electronic presentation, based on input received in response to
the display of the first list.
24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps
of: displaying on the center screen a second list of the respective
plurality of slides via the presentation control interface; and
selecting the slide for display in the preview window based on
input received in response to displaying the second list.
25. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps
of: retrieving preference data associated with the one presentation
file; determining if the received input indicates automatic
dispatch of the slide; and referring to an entry in the preference
data to determine which display screen to dispatch the slide
to.
26. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step
of: receiving other input via the presentation control interface,
wherein the other input indicates one of blanking the left screen,
blanking the right screen, unblanking the left screen, unblanking
the right screen, backing-up one slide in the preview window,
skipping the slide in the preview window.
27. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the steps
of: directing video output from a demonstration computer to either
one of the left or right screens in place of a presentation
slide.
28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the step of directing
includes the step of selectably controlling a video switch which
includes one input coupled with the demonstration computer and
respective outputs coupled with the left and right screens.
29. The method according to claim 22, wherein the step of
dispatching a slide further includes the steps of: outputting the
slide as right-side video data if the slide is directed to the
right display screen; and outputting the slide as left-side video
data if the slide is directed to the left display screen.
30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the steps
of: providing a right annotation application associated with the
right display screen which is a touch screen device; providing a
left annotation application associated with the left display screen
which is a touch screen device; and providing a center annotation
application associated with the center display screen which is a
touch screen device.
31. The method according to claim 30, wherein: the right annotation
application is configured to receive feedback from the right
display screen indicating right-side graphic overlay data
associated with a particular slide being displayed on the right
display screen; the left annotation application is configured to
receive feedback from the left display screen indicating left-side
graphic overlay data associated with a particular slide being
displayed on the left display screen; and the center annotation
application is configured to receive feedback from the center
display screen indicating preview slide graphic overlay data
associated with a particular slide being displayed on the center
display screen.
32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the steps
of: adjusting the right-side video data based on the right-side
graphic overlay data, if any; and adjusting the left-side video
data based on the left-side graphic overlay data, if any.
33. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step
of: adjusting the preview window display based on the preview slide
graphic overlay data, if any.
34. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step
of: storing any of the right-side graphic overlay data, the preview
slide graphic overlay data, or the left-side graphic overlay
data.
35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the steps
of: recalling a particular slide for display; retrieving any stored
graphic overlay data associated with the recalled slide; displaying
the recalled slide along with the retrieved graphic overlay data on
the preview screen; and dispatching the recalled slide and
retrieved graphic overlay data to either the left-side or
right-side screen independently of whether the graphic overlay data
is center, right-side or left-side graphic overlay data.
36. The method according to claim 26, wherein the preference data
includes memory jogger text and the step of displaying a slide
includes the step of: displaying on the center screen the memory
jogger text.
37. A computer readable medium bearing instructions for providing
an electronic presentation of a plurality of slides using multiple
display screens, said instructions being arranged to cause one or
more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of.
providing a presentation control interface on a center display
screen; displaying a slide, from among the plurality of slides, in
a preview window within the presentation control interface;
receiving input via the presentation control interface indicating
whether to direct the slide to a right display screen or a left
display screen; dispatching the slide for display on the indicated
display screen; and retrieving a next slide for display in the
preview window.
38. The computer readable medium of claim 37, said instructions
being further arranged to cause one or more processors upon
execution thereby to perform the steps of: providing a right
annotation application associated with the right display screen
which is a touch screen device; providing a left annotation
application associated with the left display screen which is a
touch screen device; and providing a center annotation application
associated with the center display screen which is a touch screen
device; wherein: the right annotation application is configured to
receive feedback from the right display screen indicating
right-side graphic overlay data; the left annotation application is
configured to receive feedback from the left display screen
indicating left-side graphic overlay data; and the center
annotation application is configured to receive feedback from the
center display screen indicating preview slide graphic overlay
data.
39. The computer readable medium of claim 38, said instructions
being further arranged to cause one or more processors upon
execution thereof to perform the steps of: adjusting the right-side
video data based on the right-side graphic overlay data, if any;
adjusting the left-side video data based on the left-side graphic
overlay data, if any; and adjusting the preview window display
based on the preview slide graphic overlay data, if any.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application relates to and claims priority from U.S.
Provisional Application Serial No. 60/293,179 filed May 25, 2001
entitled ELECTRONIC INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to group presentations systems
and methods and, more particularly, to an electronic presentation
system and method having multiple screens.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] One traditional method for making presentations to
relatively small groups, such as in an educational or training
environment, includes the use of an overhead projector and view
foils or transparencies. According to this familiar method, the
presenter has a series of view foils that are manually placed on,
and then removed from, an overhead projector in a predetermined
order. While blank view foils are sometimes inserted to allow the
presenter to dynamically present material during the presentation,
the presenter is unlikely to annotate a previously prepared view
foil as such an annotation would likely ruin the foil for future
use.
[0004] Recent advances in automation have addressed some of the
shortcomings of this traditional presentation method. In one
instance, a computer's video output can now be connected to a
projector so that a computer generated slide show can be shown on a
screen; sometimes with animation. However, this introduction of
automation does not change the limited and static nature of the
presentation materials and methods.
[0005] Accordingly, there remains a need for a dynamic presentation
system and method that allows a presenter to effectively and
dynamically present material that can easily be modified and
augmented according to each environment in which the presentation
is made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention addresses these and other needs with a
system and method that provides multiple display screens for
presentation materials as well as permitting dynamic annotations to
presentation materials that do not permanently alter the
presentation materials. The presentation materials can easily be
directed to any one of the display screens and any annotations can
be saved for future use or simply deleted.
[0007] One aspect of the present invention relates to a system for
providing electronic presentations in which the system includes,
for example, a plurality of presentation slides stored in a first
memory accessible by a programmable computer; a first display
screen coupled with the programmable computer and having a first
video input signal; a second display screen coupled with the
programmable computer and having a second video input signal; and a
third display screen coupled with the programmable computer and
having a third video input signal. The presentation system also
includes a presentation control software application that is stored
in a second memory accessible by the programmable computer wherein
the programmable computer is configured to execute the presentation
control application to provide an interface, displayed on the third
display screen, by which each of the plurality of slides is
dispatched for display to either one of the first or second display
screens.
[0008] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a
software application and method for providing an electronic
presentation of a plurality of slides using multiple display
screens that provides a presentation control interface on a center
display screen; displays a slide, from among the plurality of
slides, in a preview window within the presentation control
interface; receives input via the presentation control interface
indicating whether to direct the slide to a right display screen or
a left display screen; dispatches the slide for display on the
indicated display screen; and retrieves a next slide for display in
the preview window.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and
not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying
drawings and in which like reference numeral refer to similar
elements and in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary presentation system
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary presentation system
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates additional connections useful in the
presentation system according to the embodiment of FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates rear panel connectors of an exemplary
computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 depicts a logical flowchart of an exemplary
presentation method according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary screenshot of a presentation
application interface according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary toolbar of an annotation
application for touch-screen monitors according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary remote control according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] In the following description, for purposes of explanation,
numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be
apparent, however, to one schooled in the art that the present
invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, well known structures and devices are shown in block
diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present
invention.
[0019] Various embodiments of the present invention are presented
and discussed below. In particular, many embodiments are described
in reference to the specific environment of instructional or
training presentations. This specific environment is helpful in
describing many of the aspects of the present invention. However,
the present invention is not limited to only this specific
environment; but, rather, contemplates within its scope other
presentation environments in which multiple screens and dynamic
annotation capability are beneficial.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary presentation system 100
according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to
this embodiment, a computer system 106 controls the data flows and
presentation materials used by the other components. In particular,
the computer 106 provides a graphical interface 122 on the monitor
104 to assist the presenter in controlling a presentation. The
video data displayed on the interface monitor 104 is provided by
video output 116b of the computer 106. Although not shown in its
entirety, computer system 106 is a conventional system in that it
comprises a keyboard, mass storage devices, network, parallel and
serial interfaces as well as the many other peripherals and
components known to be a part of a typical computer system.
[0021] The computer system 106 also includes separate video outputs
116a, 116c that, respectively, provide video output to left-hand
projector 114a and right-hand projector 114b. The video output can
be SVGA formatted video signals as well as other conventional video
formats. Within the present description, the left/right hand
convention is from the perspective of the presenter. The video data
that is output over each of the video outputs 116a, 116c is
determined by the presenter using the interface 122. Using the
interface 122, the presenter retrieves presentation material from
storage (not shown) accessible by the computer system 106 and then
directs that material to one, or both, of the video outputs 116a,
116c. The projectors 114a, 114b then display the respective
presentation materials on a respective screen 102a, 102b.
[0022] The video outputs 116a, 116c, in addition to being directed
to projectors 114a, 114b, also are directed via respective paths
118a, 118b to touch-screen monitors 110a, 110b. In practice, the
monitors 110a, 110b would be located near the presenter while the
screens 102a, 102b would be located for convenient viewing by an
audience receiving the presentation. Each of the touch-screen
monitors 110a, 110b are connected to the computer system 106. In
FIG. 1, these connections 120a, 120b are depicted as serial
connections but other functionally equivalent feedback connection
paths are contemplated by the present invention as well. These
connection paths can be other types of input/output protocols and
hardware and are not limited to RS-232 serial communication paths.
The connections 120a, 120b are used to provide feedback from a
respective touch-screen monitor 110a, 110b that indicates any
tactile interaction that may be taking place with the monitors
110a, 110b. While FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary stylus 112a, 112b for
each monitor 110a, 110b, tactile interaction with the monitors
110a, 110b can occur using the same stylus or even no stylus at
all.
[0023] The interface 122 can be controlled using a keyboard, mouse
or other input device connected to the computer 106. However, to
provide the presenter some flexibility in movement and location
around a room, a remote control device 108 is also connected 120c
to the computer system 106 to control the interface 122 as well.
This remote control device 108 could include a transmitter (and
receiver on the computer 106) that utilize USB, FireWire, IrDA,
serial or many other types of input/output conventions to connect
with the computer 106. Additionally, the display device 104 can
also be a touch-screen device that allows the presenter to control
the presentation using tactile initiated commands and such a device
will needs its own feedback path 124.
[0024] Within the exemplary presentation system 100 of FIG. 1, the
computer system 106 controls the operation of the presentation by
concurrently executing: a) a presentation interface 122 that is
used to retrieve and direct (or dispatch) presentation materials to
one of two video outputs 116a, 116c; b) an annotation tool for the
left-hand screen 102a that receives tactile feedback from a
touch-screen monitor 110a and adjusts the video output 116a
accordingly; and c) an annotation tool for the right-hand screen
102b that receives tactile feedback from a touch-screen monitor
110b and adjusts the video output 116c accordingly.
[0025] Within the embodiment just described, as well as other
embodiments described herein, the exemplary components are not
intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For example,
the touch-screen monitors 110a, 110b can include LCD display panels
or other types of displays; and the computer 106 does not
necessarily have to be physically located with the other components
but can be connected through network or other longer-range cabling
techniques to the various other components of the presentation
system 100.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates another exemplary presentation system 200
according to another, more preferred, embodiment of the present
invention. The system 200 utilizes many conventional components to
achieve the inventive presentation systems and methods described
below. For example, video switch 240 can be a conventional,
controllable 4.times.4 video switch that includes its own driver
software and application programming interface (API) routines for
easy integration. Similarly, the monitors 212, 238, 234 can be
conventional touch-screen monitors that include their own driver
software and calibration routines that easily integrate with other
components of the system 200. Modem operating systems, such as the
one executing on computer 204 typically allow defining of multiple
video displays so that no modification of the operating system is
needed to support operation and interaction of multiple video cards
within the computer 204.
[0027] Within this embodiment, as compared to system 100,
additional video displays are possible and a video switch 240 is
used to provide additional functionality. However, as many aspects
of the system 200 are similar to those of the system 100 of FIG. 1,
detailed explanation of some features are not repeated when
describing FIG. 2.
[0028] The system 200 includes a computer 204 used by a presenter
to provide a multi-screen presentation to an audience using left
232 and right 236 projectors. The presenter has available three
monitors: left screen monitor 234 which shows the material being
presented from the left projector 232, right screen monitor 238
which shows the material being presented from the right projector
236, and the center monitor 212 which provides a graphical user
interface to the presentation software application running on the
computer 204.
[0029] In the exemplary system 200, there is also a demonstration
computer 216, demonstration monitor 202, and a video splitter 214.
The video splitter 214 provides the video output 218 from the
demonstration computer 216 to both the demonstration monitor 202
and the video switch 240. The demonstration computer 216 is
typically under the control of the presenter and can be used to
create simulations and other demonstrations that further augment or
explain the presentation materials being viewed by an audience.
Consequently, the graphical user interface also allows the
presenter to direct the video output of the demonstration computer
216 to one of the projectors 232, 236 so that the audience has the
benefit of the simulations and demonstrations.
[0030] The video switch 240 is a conventional video switch as is
known to one of ordinary skill and is controllable to direct a data
signal received at one of its inputs to one or more of its data
outputs. As shown, the video switch 240 receives at least three
video signals: a) 208 (from the computer 204); b) 210 (from the
computer 204); and c) 220 (from the demonstration computer 216 via
the video splitter 214). Depending on the settings of the video
switch 240, these various input signals are then directed to one or
more of the following outputs: a) 224 (the left projector 232); b)
226 (the left monitor 234); c) 228 (the right projector 236); and
d) 230 (the right monitor 238).
[0031] Similar to the system 100 described before, the system 200
of FIG. 2 provides a presentation system that allows a presenter to
use graphical user interface that executes on computer 204 and
displays on center monitor 212. This user interface permits the
presenter to retrieve presentation materials, preview them on the
center monitor 212 and then dispatch the materials to either the
left projector 232, the right projector 236, or both. To accomplish
the control of what is presented to the audience, the presenter
uses the interface to send materials out one of two video outputs
208, 210 and to configure the video switch 240 to direct its
different video inputs to appropriate video outputs.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, the serial path 310 is one exemplary
method for the computer 204 to selectably configure the video
switch 240. In particular, using the communications link 310 the
presenter interacts with the presentation system software to send a
command from the computer 204 to the video switch 240. Based on
this command, the video switch 240 controls the coupling between
video inputs and outputs.
[0033] The right monitor 238, left monitor 234, and the center
monitor 212 in a preferred embodiment are all touch-screen
monitors. In addition, the computer 204 is executing three
instances of an annotation tool (e.g., a software application)
wherein each instance of the annotation tool allows modification or
augmentation of the video data displayed on a respective one of the
monitors 212, 234, 238. This augmented video data is overlaid onto
any presentation slides that are currently being displayed. As
shown in FIG. 3, these monitors are connected to respective inputs
of the computer 204. The exemplary feedback paths 304-308 of FIG. 3
are shown as serial communication paths that provide responses to
the computer 204 that are dependent on tactile interaction with a
respective touch-screen monitor. The feedback data is routed to the
appropriate instance of the annotation tools in order to
appropriately adjust the video data displayed on the appropriate
monitor.
[0034] In operation, the presenter will touch one, for example,
right monitor 238 which brings the "focus" of the operating system
to the instance of the annotation tool associated with the right
monitor 238. Using the annotation tool and the touch screen monitor
238 (along with its driver software), the presenter is able to draw
such things as text, boxes, free-hand diagrams and other
annotations that can be overlaid onto the video data that is being
output by the computer 204 for display on the right presentation
screen. Accordingly, the audience has the benefit of static
presentation material that can be easily augmented in real-time in
response to the individual needs of that particular audience.
[0035] FIG. 4 displays an exemplary view of a computer 204. As
shown, this computer can include multiple video output ports
410-414 as well as multiple input/output ports 402-408. The present
invention is not limited to the specific computer arrangement and
port types of FIG. 4; but, rather, contemplates alternative,
functionally equivalent arrangements as well.
[0036] FIG. 5 depicts a high-level logical flowchart of an
exemplary presentation method according to an embodiment of the
present invention. According to this flowchart, the presenter can
utilize a system such as that depicted in FIG. 2 to provide
effective and dynamic multiple-screen presentations to an audience.
The method can be embodied as one or more software applications
that can run on one or more computers that when executed perform
the presentation method as herein described.
[0037] In step 502, a list of available presentations are presented
to a presenter to allow the presenter to make a selection. Once a
presentation file is selected, the method continues, in step 504,
by providing a list of the slides which comprise the selected
presentation. The first slide among the slides is automatically
presented in a preview window, in step 506, so that the presenter
can see what the next slide is and decide how it can best be
displayed. At this point, the presenter might determine that the
slide should be annotated, in step 508, before being displayed.
[0038] Next, in step 510, the method determines which of many
possible alternatives the presenter selects for the display of the
preview slide. For example, the presenter might select, in step
514, to send the preview slide to the left screen or, in step 516
to send the preview slide to the right screen. Alternatively, the
method can include a automatic dispatch feature that refers to a
preference file to determine, in step 518, which screen to
automatically forward the preview slide to. Other display options
can be selected in step 519, these options can include such things
as blanking the left or right screen, going back one slide in the
presentation, skipping the current preview slide without displaying
it, jumping to a slide out of order, jumping to a slide from
another presentation file, or sending a blank template to one of
the display screens. The presenter can also select, in step 512, to
display the output of a demonstration computer on either the left
screen (step 522) or the right screen (step 524). The presenter can
also elect, in step 520, to annotate the slide that is displayed on
either the left screen (in step 526) or the right screen (in step
528). By annotating a slide, the presenter is able to interactively
augment the presentation in a customized manner appropriate for the
audience at hand. As the annotations may be useful in later slide
presentations and in order to preserve annotations to more than one
displayed slide, step 530 of the method saves any annotations for
future use. Based on the presenter's selection for displaying, or
annotating a presentation slide, step 532 results in the next slide
being retrieved and displayed in the preview window. Step 534
represents that the method then repeats itself from step 510 until
the last slide of the presentation file is displayed. The details
of this method are presented below in relation to a specific
interface and software application for controlling a slide
presentation.
[0039] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary screen shot 600 of the
presentation software application that executes on the computer 204
that allows the presenter to control the presentation made to an
audience. Graphical user interface components such as drop-down
menus, selection boxes, icons, display windows, toolbars and
manipulations thereof are well known in the art and will not be
described in great detail.
[0040] The foundation for a presentation can consist of, for
example, a number of PowerPoint slides arranged together in what
can be referred to as a presentation file. Other slide formats are
also contemplated within the present invention. The PowerPoint
files, or slide shows, and their individual frames, can be stored
on the hard disk drive of the computer 204. For example, the
presentation software can be set to look for a presentation files
in a default directory such as "D:.backslash.courses". Within that
directory, would be a number of different presentation files that
the presentation software automatically scans and displays to the
presenter for selection thereof.
[0041] In one embodiment, the presentation system also permits
user-defined preference data to be associated with any one of the
presentation files. This preference data can take the form of
preference files using a predetermined extension (e.g., ".ipf") so
that the presentation software can easily associate a preference
file with its similarly named presentation file. In a preferred
embodiment, the preference file can contain a number of entries
having three fields:
[0042] <Slide Number>, <Direction Tag>, <Memory
Jogger Text>
[0043] Thus, a preference file could resemble:
[0044] 14, R, Mention all three aspects
[0045] 2, L,
[0046] . . .
[0047] 16, R, Tell joke about the three programmers
[0048] As shown, there is no need for the slide numbers to be in
numerical order although following such a convention may prove
helpful under certain circumstances. Furthermore, there is no
requirement that each slide have an entry nor that each entry have
data in every field.
[0049] Alternatively, the preference information can be included in
slides of the presentation file itself. Using the "notes" section
of a PowerPoint slide, or similar features for other presentation
file formats, the preference information does not need to be stored
in a separate preference file but can be included within the
presentation file.
[0050] The presentation software interface provides a drop-down box
616 that assists the presenter in selecting a presentation. In FIG.
6, for example, the presenter has selected a file named
"503-CH00US" which, in one embodiment, can be meaningful and
indicate that the presentation pertains to chapter 00 of lesson
503. On the hard drive this file could be stored as a PowerPoint
file "503-Ch00US.ppt". In a preferred embodiment, the first slide
of a selected presentation is automatically displayed in the
preview window 602.
[0051] The window 612 shows the 13 slides within the selected
presentation file and their respective titles. One slide title 614
is shown as selected (as indicated by the reverse video) and this
slide 604 is displayed in the preview window 602. From this window
602 the presenter can direct (or dispatch) the slide 604 to one of
the video outputs of the computer 204.
[0052] The monitor on which the screen 600 is displayed can be a
touch-screen monitor 212 but the presenter can also interact with
the presentation software's interface using a keyboard or mouse in
addition to tactile input.
[0053] There are three icons in screen 600 that determine the
destination of the preview slide 604. The term "destination" refers
to which video output of computer 204 is the slide sent to so that
it is displayed on either the left or the right screen. According
to one embodiment, the set-up and cable connections of the video
switch is configured in a predetermined manner such as that shown
in FIG. 2. The presentation software knows of this predetermined
configuration and is itself configured to provide slide to the
appropriate video output based on which icon is selected by the
presenter. The specific cabling connections can be different than
that shown in FIG. 2 as long as the presentation software is
configured to direct video output accordingly.
[0054] The icon 620 causes the presentation software to send the
preview slide 604 to the left screen, while the icon 644 causes the
presentation software to send the preview slide 604 to the right
screen. If the preview slide 604 has a direction preference
specified in an associated preferences file, then the icon 632
becomes active and, by selecting that icon 632, the presenter can
send the slide to the preferred screen based on the direction
preference found in the preference file. Once the preview slide 604
is sent to its appropriate screen for display, the presentation
software automatically displays the next slide in the sequence of
slides within the window 602. The preference tag can be overridden
by using either icon 620 or 644 instead of the automatic icon 632.
The window 618 is used for displaying any memory jogger text from
the preference file to assist the presenter with the
presentation.
[0055] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a
slide's entry in the preference file can have a direction entry
such as "LR". This double entry will have the effect of
automatically displaying the one slide on the left screen and then
displaying the next slide on the right screen so that both slides
appear to be displayed substantially simultaneously. As a result,
the eventual new preview slide is two removed from the initial
preview slide.
[0056] Slides can be selected out of sequence from the display
window 612 and then displayed in the preview window 602.
[0057] The interface screen 600 also provides a "go-back" icon 630
and a "go-forward" icon 634. These icon 630 allows the presenter to
proceed in a reverse direction in the preview window 602 and the
icon 634 allows the current preview slide 604 to be skipped and the
next slide in the presentation to be displayed in the preview
window 602.
[0058] The icons 626 and 638, respectively, provide a left screen
and right screen "slide jog" feature that allows a slide to appear
to be slid up the display screen. This activity mimics the
traditional action of a presenter that slides a view foil up on the
projector so that the bottom half of the foil is emphasized. These
icons act as toggles such that successive selection of the icon
flips between normal presentation of a slide and "jogged"
presentation of the slide.
[0059] In order to focus students on one screen or the other, and
for additional reasons within a presentation, the presentation
software interface provides icon 624 to blank the left display and
icon 640 to blank the right display. Selecting either of these
icons again will result in the appropriate display being
"unblanked".
[0060] As shown in the environment of FIG. 2, the video output from
the demonstration computer 216 is provided to the video switch 240.
The presentation software can effect the display of this video
output to one of the display projectors 232, 236 by appropriate
control of the video switch 240 via the communications link 310.
When the presenter wants to direct the output from the
demonstration computer 216 to the left projector, the icon 628 is
selected. This selection causes the presentation software to
control the video switch 240 to display the video signal 218 on the
left screen. Similar functionality with the right projector 236 is
accomplished using the icon 636. A second selection of either of
the icons 628, 636 will restore the displayed slides to the
respective screen instead of the output from the demonstration
computer 216. A second demonstration computer can be included that
takes advantage of the unused fourth input of video switch 240. In
such an alternative, manual control of the video switch 240 can
prove useful in selecting appropriate video signal routing.
[0061] Using the buttons 650, 652, respectively, the current slide
displayed on the left or right display screen can be added to a
"favorites" list displayed in window 610. This list can be named
something meaningful such as "favorites.fvt" and located in the
default directory "D:.backslash.courses". Other file names and
locations could also be used.
[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the format of the file is:
[0063] <Presentation File>, <Slide Number>:
<Descriptive Text>
[0064] Accordingly, one entry may resemble:
[0065] 409-Ch05, 14 : Free Threading
[0066] which refers to the fourteenth slide of the presentation
file 409-Ch05.ppt (for example, if PowerPoint slides are being
used). The descriptive text can be any text, but the slide title is
one useful example.
[0067] By selecting either of buttons 650 or 652, a new entry is
appended to, or otherwise inserted into, the favorites file. In a
preferred embodiment, this file is useful among different
presentation files and is not specific to a particular presentation
file. The presenter selects a slide from the window 610 similar to
the manner in which a slide is selected from the window 612. One
difference, is that the presentation software must open the
referenced presentation file, extract the appropriate slide and
display that in the preview window 602. The slide can then be
dispatched to the left or right screen using the icons 620 and 644
respectively. Once the slide is dispatched, the presentation
reverts back to the slide location within the original presentation
file in order to select the next slide to place in the preview
window 602.
[0068] The presentation software cooperates with three different
instances of a slide annotation application (i.e., an annotation
tool). The slide annotation tool can be a vector-based drawing tool
that generates graphics that can be overlaid onto a presentation
slide. Each of these instances of the annotation tool correspond to
a different one of the monitors 212, 234, 238. The execution of an
annotation tool instance results in an annotation toolbar being
displayed on each of the different monitors 212, 234, 238. The
annotation toolbar 608 associated with the annotation tool for the
center monitor 212 is depicted at the bottom of the preview window
602. Using this toolbar, the presenter can annotate the slide 604
before it is dispatched to either the left or right display
screens. Each of the left and right monitors 234 and 238 have their
own associated annotation tools and similar toolbars.
[0069] The clock icon 606 opens a timer window that allows a
presenter to select a time period and display a countdown screen
that indicates remaining time within that period. This time period
can reflect the time left to complete an exercise or the time left
until the next break in the presentation.
[0070] FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary annotation toll toolbar such as
that shown in FIG. 6. The different functions of the toolbar are
selected by tapping or selecting the appropriate icon. From left to
right, the icons include:
[0071] 702: A hide/unhide button that expands or contracts the
display of the toolbar.
[0072] 704: A text function that is used by tapping on the
presentation slide where text should appear and then using the
keyboard (of the computer 204) to enter text.
[0073] 706: A free-hand drawing tool that allows drawing on the
slide, preferably using a stylus or other similar implement.
[0074] 708: A rectangle draw function that allows selecting a
starting corner and dragging to an ending corner to define a
rectangle.
[0075] 710: An ellipse draw function similar to the rectangle
function but an ellipse is drawn in the defined "boundary" box.
[0076] In a preferred embodiment, both the rectangle and ellipse
tools automatically activate a text entry function so that the
created shape can have text entered without requiring the selection
of any additional icons.
[0077] 712: A straight line draw function that is used by selecting
the starting and ending points of the line.
[0078] 714: A "callout" function that creates a text entry box that
resembles a comic strip dialogue balloon.
[0079] 716: A highlighter tool that creates a rectangle of the
screen that is highlighted in transparent yellow.
[0080] 718: A pointer tool that allows an indicator to be displayed
on the presentation slide at a desired location. In a preferred
embodiment, the indicator is a bright red arrow. This arrow will
move to any location on the presentation slide that is tapped by
the presenter.
[0081] 720: A progressive revelation function that covers portions
of the presentation slide to prevent its display. The first tap on
the screen sets the starting vertical location and each successive
tap repositions the overlay to display more and more of the
presentation slide.
[0082] 722: An eraser tool that erases any annotations on a
presentation slide.
[0083] 724: An undo function that removes each annotation in a
reverse order.
[0084] 726: A color selection tool that selects from among
different colors the color for future annotation operations.
[0085] Annotations can be taking place on the left, right and
center monitors in any particular order; therefore, in a preferred
embodiment, annotations are saved every time a presenter navigates
away from a presentation slide. For example, slide 14 can be
displayed on the left monitor 234 and be annotated while slide 13
is displayed on the right monitor 238. If the presenter touches the
right monitor 238, then the operating system of computer 204
detects that focus has now shifted to the right monitor 238 and any
further input will be interpreted by the annotation tool associated
with that monitor 238. The presentation software also saves any
current annotations for slide 14 before proceeding. If the
presenter then navigates back to slide 14, the current annotations
for slide 13 are saved and further input is interpreted by the
annotation tool associated with the left monitor 234.
[0086] In a preferred embodiment, the vector graphics files created
by each annotation tool are stored in the "D:.backslash.courses"
directory. For example, as annotations are made to the slides
within presentation file 409-Ch05.ppt, a directory 409-Ch05.ann can
be created and populated with a files "xxx" wherein the "xxx"
refers to the slide within that presentation file.
[0087] When the presentation software presents a slide in the
preview window 602 it can automatically search for the existence of
any annotation files and automatically augment the slide
accordingly. As a result, annotation files can be saved and moved
to another computer to augment a presentation from that computer
while still utilizing the presentation slides that reside on the
second computer. Also, the re-display of an annotated slide is not
dependent on the display screen on which the slide was originally
annotated. For example, a slide displayed and annotated while on
the right display screen can be later recalled for display and
dispatched to the left display screen and any previous annotations
will be displayed on the left display screen without any need for
modification.
[0088] Returning briefly to the interface screen 600 of FIG. 6,
there are two complementary icons 622 and 642. These icons,
respectively, start a blank slide on the left and right display
screens. This blank slide can then be annotated as desired. In a
preferred embodiment, a dialog box appears that asks for a name for
the blank slide and can provide a suggested default name as well.
If the newly named slide is not saved as a favorite, then it will
be deleted upon ending the current presentation. If it is saved,
then it will be available for recall later. In a similar manner,
individual slides may be created and copied into the
"D:.backslash.courses" directory and manually added to the
favorites file. In this manner, additional, extrinsic slides which
augment a presentation file can easily be made avaialbe for
selection and display during a pre-scripted presentation.
[0089] The presentation system is not limited to presenting
viewable content from only a single document file format. The
presentation system, for example, can work with two or more
different document file formats such as PowerPoint presentations
and Adobe Acrobat PDF files. In a preferred embodiment, the
PowerPoint presentations are used to deliver screens of information
in landscape layout, while Acrobat files display information from
portrait layout paginated documents.
[0090] According to this embodiment, both the PowerPoint and
Acrobat presentations can be treated in exactly the same way by the
presentation system, including the incorporation of any annotation
files associated with each screen of the document being displayed.
Because of the aspect ratio difference between landscape and
portrait documents, there may be instances in which only two-thirds
of a portrait-mode page (e.g., an Acrobat page) is displayed on
each screen and projector. The `nudge up` buttons 626, 638 on the
interface 600 is used to make the lower two-thirds of an Acrobat
page visible.
[0091] The functionality and benefits of the "favorites" mechanism
remain the same for either PowerPoint or Acrobat pages as both
formats can be saved and then recalled for display on any display
screen 212, 234, 238.
[0092] An exemplary remote control 108 of FIG. 1 is shown in more
detail in FIG. 8 as element 800. For example, the remote control
800 can connect to the computer 204 using an input/output port that
is not being used by another component of the system 200. The
remote control does not need to have the entire tool suite that is
shown in FIG. 6 but rather can include a button 802 for
automatically advancing a slide; a button 804 for skipping the
current preview slide; a button 806 for sending the preview slide
to the right screen; a button 808 for blanking/unblanking the right
screen; a button 810 for blanking/unblanking the left screen; and a
button 812 for sending the preview slide to the left screen.
[0093] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been disclosed, it is to be understood that various different
modifications are possible and are contemplated within the true
spirit and scope of the appended claims. There is no intention,
therefore, of limitations to the exact abstract or disclosure
herein presented.
* * * * *